(I wrote this on the way home for spring break on Monday evening)
Something about airports seems to give me the writing bug. Last time I flew home I wrote City Lights. I’m not really sure what it is; maybe it’s that I’m on break? Yes, no more school means more time for my mind to take a vacation into the realm of writing for fun.
Today, I’m sitting in the MCI airport waiting for my slightly delayed flight. You know what? It is fun to watch people. In airports I swear that every one of us is all in our own little bubble or world. The other hundreds of people may as well not be there for as much as we care. For instance, I’m sitting here typing into my computer. Many people have their noses in books. If not, they’re plugged into their iPods. Some are texting or checking the weather on their mobile device. One lady in this gate has a little, pink-flowered carrier for her puppy, which is a Jack Russell terrier and Chihuahua mix. An older couple stares absently at the people disembarking—she in a wheelchair and he sitting tenderly beside her. I wonder…are they going or coming? Visiting grandchildren? Attending a funeral? On vacation? Meanwhile, the business professionals look like they do this all day every day. Little children hang tightly to their mothers—or stay further from their mothers than she is comfortable with.
The overhead announcements go nearly unheeded: Don’t leave your baggage unattended. Will so-and-so and someone-else please come to gate 42? Your plane is now boarding and is ready for takeoff. Attention, passengers flying on Southwest 1169, we are now boarding group A. Family boarding will be…..
Of course, actually boarding the plane is when the real adventure begins. Walking onto a plane means that you’ve got to select a seat beside a complete stranger and then commit to being strapped to that piece of blue faux leather next to him or her for the duration of the flight. This takes some nerve! Well, for flight #1 I ended up sitting between two middle aged women.
The lady to my left was traveling for business. She must travel a lot because she had a book of coupons from Southwest Airlines that was redeemable for free alcoholic beverages. She said they send them to her often. I find it humorous that right off she offered me one of her coupons. To her surprise, I had to turn her down, informing her that I am only 18. She took it well, laughing it off. Now she is getting ready to enjoy her chardonnay, saying she deserves it after the long trip she had.
The lady on my right was really interesting to talk to. In fact, she talked more than I, which is saying something! She had flaming red hair and had just returned from a week with her two daughters, who live in California. She apparently enjoyed her trip, given her extra bag full of merchandise purchased on the trip and the smile playing across her features. Her daughters are remarkably like my sister and I—5 years apart and complete opposites. She spoke proudly of their work and accomplishments and interspersed her commentary with stories of their childhood. They spent 7 years in Germany when their dad was stationed there in the Air Force, which I thought was really neat.
Now, on my second flight, the woman on my left stayed on for the second leg. I moved to the window seat, and a new lady joined us. I am currently in my “bubble” while I’m writing this, and we are all three ignoring each other—one with a book, one with an e-book on her iPad, and me with my PC typing about nothing in particular.
Glancing out the window is a welcome distraction. Tonight I got to watch the sunset from my window. I think of my sister, who asked my dad a few months ago if he had ever flown into a sunset. While I wasn’t flying directly into the sunset, I could see the delicate shades of pink, purple, orange and blue the sun lent to the sky in the last moments of daylight. Before the sun rises afresh, I will be home with my family on Spring Break.
The sunset also makes think of Ryan. We have a habit of sending each other pictures of sunsets. I have a picture on my iPod that I will be sending to him when I get off the plane. It’s our tradition I guess, and it makes us think of each other. It is comforting to know that the same sun shines on both of us and it is a thing of beauty we can share.
The sunset makes me think of home. The sunset can daily be seen from the front of our house. Many evenings one of us will yell, “Sunset break” and then join each other to watch the sun set. Mom and dad hug and mom says something about hugging your honey as the sun goes down. This is a sweet memory in my heart and mind and only makes me want to be home faster.
The murmur of conversation wafts through the cabin as pools of light illuminate the bookworms and a blue glow brightens the faces of electronics users.
I know some people are headed home. Some are headed away to locations near and far for business or pleasure. Strange how one can feel so alone even on an airplane with hundreds of people. Yet I am not alone, for my God is with me.
This thought has been with me often in recent days. Often I feel alone. I am surrounded by people on campus, in every restaurant, classroom, store and church. Yet, perhaps because I am far from home and far from Ryan, I feel the ache of loneliness. I know I have friends and classmates at school, and this is a blessing indeed. But I cannot rely on them to take care of me, support me, encourage me, and love me the way my parents and family do. I cannot rely on them, but I can rely on God. He is everything I need. I keep telling myself that…He is everything. He is everything. All that I need he will provide. He can wrap me in His arms, comfort me, protect me, sustain me, strengthen me, correct me, and uphold me. He will always and forever be there. He is the beginning and the end. There is no shadow or turning in Him. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I can cast all my anxiety on Him for He cares for me. What a special promise! Tonight on the plane, I need this reminder. When I look out the window at the darkness, He is here. When I look to my right and to my left and see all the people, wrapped up in their own lives, searching for the same connectedness and safety, He is there.
Tell me, friend. Why would one ever forget this? I know in my mind that God is eternal, omnipresent, and merciful. But does that really translate into my life? Many times I think not. I go about my life, feeling sorry for myself because even though I am surrounded by people I sometimes feel alone. What do I do about it? Nothing. Well not quite; at the moment I am sitting on an airplane blogging about it, but that’s beside the point.
Really, Laura? God is always there for you. He knows your every need before you ask it. You know he can feel that emptiness that you sometimes feel. He wants you to be full and complete in Him. No one—not your mother, father, sister, best friend, boyfriend, roommate, or “frienemy”—could ever fill the need that you feel. God is the only answer.
So maybe it’s like the Donut Man…. After all, “life without Jesus is like a doughnut, ‘cause there’s a hole in the middle of your heart.” Whatever need exists in my heart, God can fill with no questions asked. He is all-powerful and loving, and calls me to be complete in Him.
